Helleborus plant named ‘ABCRD01’

ABSTRACT

A new  Helleborus  plant particularly distinguished by abundant red-purple flowers, upright plant habit and a vigorous growth habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Helleborus×hybridus.

Variety denomination: ‘ABCRD01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety botanicallyknown as Helleborus×hybridus, and hereinafter referred to by the varietyname ‘ABCRD01’. The new variety originated from a controlledhybridization conducted in February 2007 in Devon, United Kingdom,between female hellebore plant Helleborus nr. 3469RDEX2 (unpatented) andmale hellebore plant Helleborus nr. 3465RDMT45 (unpatented). The seedsproduced by the hybridization were sown in Devon, United Kingdom at RDPlants Company. A single plant selection was chosen for furtherevaluation and for asexual propagation in Devon, United Kingdom.

‘ABCRD01’ was subsequently asexually propagated by tissue culture inAalsmeer, The Netherlands for 3 years. The present invention has beenfound to retain its distinctive characteristics through successiveasexual propagations for at least 50 generations.

Community Plant Variety Rights (CPVR) for this variety were applied forin Europe on Oct. 25, 2011. ‘ABCRD01’ has not been made publiclyavailable more than one year prior to filing of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Aalsmeer and Boijl, The Netherlands.

-   -   1. Abundant, red-purple flowers;    -   2. Upright plant habit; and    -   3. A vigorous growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This Helleborus plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows overall plant habit including blooms, buds, and foliage ofthe plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures. The photograph is of a whole plantabout one-year-old, grown outdoors in Boijl, The Netherlands.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘ABCRD01’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inAalsmeer and Boijl, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken onone-year-old plants grown outdoors. Color readings were taken underartificial light. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. ColourChart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Ranunculaceae.        -   Genus and species.—Helleborus×hybridus.        -   Common name.—Christmas Rose.        -   Variety name.—‘ABCRD01’.-   Plant:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and vigorous.        -   Propagation.—In vitro propagation by tissue culture.        -   Height.—25.0 cm to 35.0 cm.        -   Width.—20.0 cm to 25.0 cm.        -   Time to initiate roots.—6 weeks.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 3 months.        -   Time to produce a finished plant.—3 months.        -   Root habit.—Vigorous and fleshy roots.-   Stems:    -   -   Shape.—Compact.        -   Length.—3.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—2.0 cm.        -   Internode length.—0.1 cm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—RHS 183C.-   Leaves:    -   -   Type.—Palmately compound.        -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Length.—15.0 cm to 20.0 cm.        -   Width.—15.0 cm to 20.0 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Color (both immature and mature leaves).—Upper surface: RHS            139A. Lower surface: RHS 138A.        -   Venation pattern.—Longitudinal.        -   Venation color (both upper and lower surfaces).—RHS 138A.        -   Venation color (at base of leaf).—Mature leaf: RHS 187A.            Immature leaf: RHS 59B.        -   Variegation.—Absent.        -   Leaflets.—Quantity per leaf: 4 to 6. Shape: More cordate            than oval. Length: 6.0 cm to 10.0 cm, depending on the            growing stage. Width: 4.0 cm to 6.0 cm, depending on the            growing stage. Apex: Acute. Base: Between cordate and            obtuse. Margin: Serrate.        -   Petiole.—Length: 20.0 cm to 25.0 cm. Diameter: 0.5 cm.            Color: RHS 183C. Texture: Smooth.        -   Petiolule.—Length: 2.0 cm. Diameter: 0.5 cm. Color: RHS            183C. Texture: Smooth.        -   Stipules.—Absent.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Loosely branched cymes.        -   Shape.—Loosely branched.        -   Self cleaning or persistent.—Persistent.        -   Flowering habit.—Vertical facing flowers above the foliage.        -   Flowering season.—January through February.        -   Quantity of inflorescences on the plant.—10 to 15.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Lastingness of inflorescences on the plant.—At least 2            months.        -   Diameter.—15.0 cm.        -   Depth (height).—30.0 cm.-   Flower:    -   -   Type.—Single.        -   Diameter.—4.0 cm to 5.0 cm.        -   Depth (height).—0.8 cm to 1.0 cm.        -   Quantity per inflorescence.—2 to 3.-   Bud:    -   -   Height.—3.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—2.0 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Colour.—RHS 70B.        -   Texture.—Smooth.-   Bracts:    -   -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Quantity per inflorescence.—2 to 10.        -   Length.—3.0 cm.        -   Width.—2.0 cm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Ovate.        -   Margin.—Smooth.        -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 139A. Lower surface: RHS 138A.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Shape.—Round.        -   Length.—20.0 cm.        -   Width.—0.5 cm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—RHS 183B.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—2.0 cm to 5.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—RHS 183B.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—5.        -   Arrangement.—Single whorl.        -   Shape.—Orbicular.        -   Length.—2.5 cm.        -   Width.—2.5 cm.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Rounded.        -   Margin.—Smooth.        -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 70B. Lower surface: RHS 70C.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity per flower: Greater than 60. Color: RHS            4D. Filament length: 1.5 cm. Filament width: 0.05 cm.        -   Anthers.—Shape: Ovate. Length: 0.2 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm.            Color: RHS 4B. Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen color: RHS 4B.        -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: 5. Shape: Tuberculate. Length:            1.5 cm. Width: 0.1 cm. Color: RHS 183A.        -   Stigma.—Length: 0.2 cm. Width: 0.05 cm. Color: RHS 157C.        -   Style.—Length: 0.5 cm to 0.7 cm. Color: RHS 71C.        -   Ovary.—Shape: Ovate. Color: RHS 139A.        -   Nectaries.—Quantity per flower: 10 to 14. Shape: Funnel.            Length: 0.5 cm to 0.7 cm. Width: 0.2 cm to 0.3 cm. Color:            RHS N144B.-   Fruit and seed set: None observed.-   Disease and insect resistance: No particular resistance or    susceptibility observed.-   Physiological characteristics: Tolerant to frost.

COMPARISON WITH COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘ABCRD01’ differs from the commercial variety ‘HGP01’ (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 21,062) in that ‘ABCRD01’ has a flower bud color of RHS 70B(red-purple), whereas ‘HGP01’ has a flower bud color close to RHS 184C(grayed-purple). Additionally, ‘ABCRD01’ has red-purple sepals (RHS70B), whereas ‘HGP01’ has white sepals (RHS 155C) that become closer topink (RHS 56D) with development.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Helleborus plant as describedand shown herein.